The City of Castelldefels Award presented to ICFO

ICFO has been awarded a prize by the Castelldefels City Council, the seaside town in the metropolitan Barcelona area where the Institute is located. The prize was awarded last Friday evening, during a ceremony in the City Castle. The recently refurnished castle is located in a dominating position on top of a hill overlooking the coastal strip between the Garraf Massif and Barcelona. Its southern half consists of an originally Romanesque chapel, whose earliest records date back to the year 966.

About one hundred distinguished citizens and high-ranking representatives from local institutions and civic groups joined the City Mayor in the ceremony. ICFO’s director, Prof. Lluís Torner, attended the ceremony on behalf of ICFO and acknowledged the significance of the award on behalf of all ICFOnians.

The Castelldefels City Prize recognizes city-based individuals and institutions for their efforts and dedication to important challenges. The prize has four categories: Castelldefels City Prize, Economy Prize, Social Action Prize, and Special Prize. ICFO was awarded the first of these prizes, while the others were awarded to the Castelldefels Hotel Management Association, Margalló Chorale, and the Western Sahara activist Aminetou Haidar, respectively. The Committee that awards the prizes is chaired by the City Mayor, Mr. Padilla, and includes representatives from the local political, civic and professional groups. Previous recipients of the award include the painter Josep Guinovart, the world-renowned chef Ferran Adrià, the former Catalonia President Jordi Pujol, the UPC Rector Gabriel Ferraté, and the scientist Manuel Patarroyo.